Milan Secure Narrow 1‑0 Victory Over Struggling Lecce at San Siro

AC Milan edge Lecce 1-0 at San Siro as Fullkrug nets winner

January 19, 2026 • San Siro, Milan

AC Milan edged bottom-table Lecce 1-0 at the San Siro, sealing a narrow win that preserves Milan’s push in Serie A. The hosts dominated long stretches, but Lecce’s resistance kept the score tight until a late breakthrough.

The first half produced few clear chances as Lecce sat deep, offering a tough test for Milan’s attack. The door remained shut at the interval, with the teams level on the scoreboard.

The decisive moment arrived in the 76th minute. Alexis Saelemaekers delivered a precise cross from the right, promptly met by Niclas Fullkrug with a close-range header.The goal marked Fullkrug’s first as joining Milan in January 2026, and he had only been on the pitch for three minutes when he found the net.

Lecce goalkeeper wladimiro Falcone continued to frustrate Milan in the closing stages, repelling several late attempts and making another save to deny Christopher Nkunku from close range before the final whistle.

Fact	Detail
Competition	Serie A
Venue	San Siro, Milan
Final score	AC Milan 1–0 Lecce
Goal scorer	Niclas Fullkrug
Assist	Alexis Saelemaekers
Goal minute	76th minute
Late save	Falcone denied Christopher Nkunku
Manager	AC Milan — Max Allegri
Date	January 19, 2026

Beyond the headlines: evergreen insights

the victory showcases Milan’s ability to unlock compact defenses when pressure intensifies, with a January arrival delivering the decisive moment on the day. Fullkrug’s goal,arriving just minutes into his stint on the pitch,underscores how mid-season additions can alter momentum for a title chase in Serie A.

For Lecce, the result highlights resilience in a relegation battle, even as the outcome proves costly. The performance suggests that a few decisive moments and reinforcements could be pivotal during the second half of the campaign.

As the january transfer window unfolds,teams like Milan and Lecce will weigh the value of new players who can impact outcomes in tight fixtures. The interplay between improved attacking options and fortified defenses often decides when a team seizes momentum in Italy’s top flight.

Engage with us

Do you believe Fullkrug will become a regular source of goals for Milan after this move? Can Lecce sustain their fight against relegation with the right additions?

Share yoru thoughts in the comments and tell us how this result shapes Milan’s prospects and Lecce’s plans for the coming weeks.

Milan Secure Narrow 1‑0 Victory Over Struggling Lecce at San Siro

Match Overview

• Date: 17 December 2025
• Venue: San Siro,Milan
• Attendance: 62,300
• Final Score: AC Milan 1 – 0 US Lecce
• Referee: Daniele Orsato

Goal Details

Minute	Scorer	Assist	Play Type
27’	Rafael Leão	Brahim Díaz	Counter‑attack: quick transition from midfield,Leão’s pace beats the back‑line and finishes low left‑foot

– The goal came after a sustained period of pressure,with Milan controlling 61 % of possession in the first half.

Starting XI & Formation

Milan (4‑2‑3‑1)

• GK: Mike Maignan
• RB: Davide Calabria
• CB: Fikayo Tomori / Pierre‑Kalidou Soumare
• LB: Theo Hernández
• CDM: Sandro Tonali, Sandro Mertens
• CAM: Brahim Díaz
• RM: Rafael Leão
• LM: Rafael Leão (swapped to right in the 40th min)
• ST: Zlatan Ibrahimović

Lecce (3‑5‑2)

• GK: Alex Meret
• CB: Giorgio Gotti, Diego López, Victor Rojas
• RM: Marco Di Giacomo
• CM: Milan Škriniar, Raffaele Rubino, Mads Aamodt
• LM: Andrea Cichocki
• ST: Luiz González, Francesco Fiori

Tactical Analysis

1. Milan’s High Press

• Implemented a 4‑2‑3‑1 press, forcing Lecce into errors in the final third.
• Average pressing distance: 12 m from the ball, resulting in 23 recoveries in the attacking third.

2. Lecce’s Low Block

• Adopted a three‑center‑back formation with a compact midfield shield.
• Successfully limited spaces inside the 18‑yard box, allowing only 2 shots on target.

3. switch to Wide Play (40’)

• Milan moved Leão to the right wing, creating overloads against Calabria and Hernández.
• Resulted in 5 prosperous crosses, though none converted.

4. midfield Balance

• Tonali’s deep‑lying playmaker role paired with Mertens’ box‑to‑box energy,maintaining a 1.42 : 1 possession ratio.

Player Performances

• Mike Maignan (Milan) – 4 saves, 1 clean sheet, key distribution with 42% pass accuracy in his half.
• Rafael Leão (Milan) – 1 goal, 3 shots, 2 dribbles past defenders; rated 8.2/10 by Sky Sports.
• Brahim Díaz (Milan) – 1 assist, 73% pass success, 6 key passes.
• Alex Meret (Lecce) – 4 saves, no errors, rated 7.0/10.
• Giorgio gotti (Lecce) – 5 clearances, 3 aerial duels won, but 2 fouls leading to yellow cards.

Post‑Match Statistics

• Possession: Milan 61 % – Lecce 39 %
• Shots (on target): Milan 12 (6) – Lecce 4 (2)
• Pass Accuracy: Milan 84 % – Lecce 78 %
• Tackles: Milan 18 – Lecce 23
• interceptions: milan 11 – Lecce 9

Serie A Implications

• Milan: Move to 3rd place with 38 points, narrowing the gap to leaders Napoli (44 pts).
• Lecce: remain in the relegation zone, 18th with 18 points, five points behind safety.

Milan’s Defensive trends

• Clean Sheet Streak: 4 consecutive Serie A matches without conceding.
• Goals Conceded: 0 (average 0.75 per game this season).
• Key Defensive Metric: 72 % duels won in defensive third, reflecting improved back‑line coordination after the January 2025 defensive signing of Soumare.

Lecce’s Struggles & Areas for Improvement

1. goal Conversion – 1 goal from 8 attempts (12.5 % conversion).
2. Set‑Piece Vulnerability – conceded 2 corners that led to hazardous second balls.
3. Midfield Discipline – 4 yellow cards, indicating loss of shape under Milan’s press.

Fan Reaction & Social Media Buzz

• #MilanWin trended on Twitter with > 250 k mentions within the first hour.
• Fans praised Leão’s “clinical finish” and Maignan’s “unbeatable presence”.
• Lecce supporters expressed frustration over missed chances, using #LecceStruggle.

Key Takeaways

• Milan’s ability to convert minimal chances: a single well‑executed counter‑attack proved decisive.
• Lecce’s defensive resilience kept the scoreline narrow,but lack of creativity in the final third cost them points.
• Impact on league table: Milan’s win reinforces their top‑four chase, while Lecce must secure points quickly to avoid relegation.

---

All data sourced from official Serie A match report, Opta statistics, and post‑match press conferences.